Hypodermic syringe



ATTORNEY.

INVENTOR. ARTHUR E. SIW/TH A. E. SMITH HYPODERMIC SYRINGE Dec. 16, 1930.

Original Filed May 18' 192 Ressuecl Dec., 16, 1930 UNIT-ED STATES Re.A 17,906

PATENT VoFl-lclaz ARTHUR. n sm'rrn, or Los ANGELES, CALIFORNIA HYIODEIIMYITCv SYRINGE Original application led Hay 18, 1925, Serial No. 31,029. Renewed September 23, 1926, Uriginal No. 1,607,271, dated November 16, 1926. Application for reissue iiledr February 12, 1927. Serial No.

This invention relates to hypodermic syringes and it has for its object to provide a device of this character into which a medicinal package of the nature of an ampule 5 may be charged, after themannerof loading a gun, the several parts being so correlated and arranged that a freshly made medicinal preparation may be injected by the syringe without ever coming into contact with hum man hands, unsterilized receptacles or with the atmosphere.

It is a further object of the inyentionto provide a syringe of the characteryiiidicated adapted to form the necessary iiuid tight 1-5 joint between the ainpules and the syringe., with facility and dispatch and with very little trouble upon thepartfof the user.

Further objects of the invention and refinemente of construction will be pointed out 20 in the .detailed description which follows:

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a syringe constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the syringe upon a smaller scale. v

Fig. 3 is a magnified sectional view'of the lower portion of the syringe,illustrat-I ing an elastic packing cone, and a discharge 30 tube hereinafter described.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view upon line 4-4 of Fig. 2. v

Fig. 5-is a plan View of the structure illustrated in Fig. 3, upon a smaller scale, and

-35 Fig. 6 is a sideview of the ampule, hereinafter described.

l Like numerals designate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawing.

The syringe of the present invention is 4o particularly designed to discharge the con? end 6 of the ampule, after it-has been broken therefrom, as hereinafter described. I preferably close the rear end of the ampule indicated at l() and weaken it by a scored or cut line, at 11, so that this rear end may be readily broken therefrom. Thus this closed rear end protects the stopper and maintains thev whole in absolutelyl sterile condition until the time of use arrives.

Certain medicinal compounds, and particularly certainanesthetics are` unstable in solution, and this disintegration or chemical change may produce deleterious effects upon the patient if such a solution was injected. Such medicinal compounds should be freshly prepared at the time of use. In the present case the constituent elements of the medicinal preparation in the ampules, are maintained separate from the vehicle until the timeof use arrives. For example, the body of liquid indicated at 12, in the ampule, may be distilled water, and an anesthetic or. other medicinal preparation in the form of tablets or powder may be contained within a paraii'ln or other waterproof capsule 14, which is fusible or meltable under acomparatively low degree of heat. Thus when the time of use arrives, by placing the ampule into warm Water and increasing 'the temperature or holding it under running hot water, the paru yaiiin or low fusible wall may be melted and the medicinal ingredients permitted to mix with the distilled water or other vehicle. By

lholding the ampule in avertical 'positionwith its large end upward, the released para'liin w1ll travel upward, due to its specific gravity, and find afscating in the concave face 9a of the stopper 9, so that it willthereafter constitute, in efect,a part of the piston ejecting the medicinal preparation through the open end of the ampule. When the-paraiiin rises it is stillhot and in molten condition. After it has entered and seated itself in the concave face of the stopper,it is congealed and hardened, in Contact therewith, by placing the ampule infcold water or holding it with large .end upward under running cold Water.l

The syringe comprises a barrel 15 having a bayonet joint connection with a head 15e,`

lili) the latter carrying a cross bar 16, for engage-l ment. by the fingers of the operator, the palm of whose hand engages a hmile or cross bar 17 upon the upper end of a plunger rod 18. This plunger rod carries a plunger 19 at its inner. end which is adapted to, engage the stopper 9 and force said stopper downwardly to expel the liquid 12 from the ampule. The

plunger rod 18 is surrounded by a spring 20,'

i for the reception of a hea'd 26. This head is provided with a conical chamber 27 and this chamber in turn receives a thin metal funnel 28, which constitutes a seating for a conical rubber packing element 29. The hypodermic needle 30 is provided with an enlarged portion 31 which lies between the lower end of Vthe metallic cones 28 and a tip 32, the latter being threaded at 33 into engagement with the lower end of the head 26. The upper end of the enlarged portion 31 of the needle bea-rsv against and is seated in the concave bottom of the metallic funnel 28. The rubber cone 29jis provided with a convex upper face-and has a central tapering depressison formed in said upper face which receives the lower end of the ampule after the tip has been broken off. The upper portion of the needle, indicated at 30a, passes through therubber cone, and extends upwardly through the conical 'recess 34 of the cone. The upper end of the needle ispreferably closed, as indicated at 35 in Figure 3 and it is provided with a plurality of lateral openings 3G to permit the passage of liquid from the ampule to the interior of the needle. The closing of` the upper end of the needle in the manner described, i's to obviate the possibility of the needle becoming accidentally clogged by the paraliin.

When the head 26 is screwed int-o place it con'lpresses the rubber cone 29 against a ring 37` which' is secured in the lower end of the barrel 15 and which is provided with a beveled face 38. The conical shape of the recess 27 in conjunction with the pressure exerted by the ring 37 causes an inward compression of the cone 29 about the portion 30a of the needle, while the forcin `of the broken tapered end of the ampule into the recess 34 of the cone 29 brings about anout-Ward compression of the upper portion of said cone. Thus :i fluid tight joint is provided between the cone and the needle, between the ampule and the cone and between the cone and the ring '37, which absolutely insures against any leakage of the contents of the ampule. The head 15ZL carries an elongated sleeve 15b, which is adapted toslide downwardly within the barrel l5, and the sleeve 15b and barrel 15 are 'provided with sight openings 15c through which the contents of the ampule and the movement of the plunger and stopper 9 may be viewed. Furthermore, the presence of these openings facilitates the proper engagement of the nose of the ampule with the openampules ranging from one to four cubiic centimeters in capacity, or any fractions thereof, and-it is clear from the construction y I illustrated and described that the yielding sleeve 24 will serve tov preliminarily establish a fluid tight oint between the needle and the ampule, irrespective of the length of the ampule (within certain limits) and thus render it possible for the physician or surgeon to use a single syringe,vto handle a number yof varying sizes of ampules.

Vhile I have stated that I preliminarily weaken the ampule at thev points to be broken off, itis to be understood that this is not absolutely essential, since the physician may accomplish this result by suitably nicking or notching the ampule with a small file, at the time of use.

It is thought that the operation of this device will be apparent without further description. vHowever, it may briefly be stated that in use, the operator separates the barrel 15, from sleeve 15b, by disengaging thebayonet connections. He then selects the proper size ampule and after heating and cooling it as previously described, breaks off the tip, and the rear end. and places this ampule in the 4barrel l5 with its broken off, smaller end,

seated in the r'ecess 34. The parts are magnified above normal in Figure 1 and the opening that is left in the end of the ampule after its tip is broken olf is so small that the liquid docs not run out of this opening until pressure is applied thereto by the forcing of the cork 'downwardly into the ampule. After the ampule has been seated -in contact with the cone 29, as described, the sleeve 15b is slipped downwardly within the barrel '15 and about the ampule and the bayonet connection of head 15a is'made, to ljoin said head and-sleeve. This brings the sleeve 24 and its fiange 23 to bear withyielding pressure upon the upper end of the ampule, and forces the nose of the ampule into contact within the amp'ule. rlhis pressure upon the liquid in turn tends to force the ampnle downwardly and increases the pressure upon the packing cone 29 'and associated parts.

It is to be noted that thefunnel 28 has a concave bottom 28a. This facilitates the entry of theneedle through the cone 29, the

lower end of the cone conforming in shape to the lower end of the funnel.

lt is to be understood that lthe invention is not .limited tothe precise construction set forth vbut that it includes within its purview whatever changes fairly come Within either the terms or the spirit of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, lwhat I claim is: 1. A syringe of, the character described comprising a barrel having a compressible packing element at the lower end thereof adapted to make fluid tight contact with anv ampulea sleeve adapted t-o have sliding engagement with said barrel, a detachable connection between the sleeve and the barrel, a plunger and' plunger rod` operating in the sleeve and a yielding pressure member surrounding the plunger rod and longitudinally movable within said sleeve,

2. A syringe of the character describedcomprising a barrel having a comp-ressible packing element at the lower end thereof adapted to make fluid tight contactwith the small broken end of an ampule, asleeve adapted to have sliding engagement with said barrel, a detachable connection between the sleeve and the barrel, a plunger andV plunger rod operating in the sleeve, a pressure ineinber surrounding the plunger rod andlongitudinally movable Within said sleeve, a cap upon the sleeve and a spring bearing between said cap and said pressure member.

3. In adevice of the character described, the combination with a barrel, of a compressible packing member at the lower end therelof adapted to make contact with an end of an ampule, a cap within which said packing member is seated, a removable tip for said cap and a hypodermic needle having an enl larged portion lying inwardly offsaid tip, and compressed by said tip against the packing member, there'being a portion of said needle above said enlarged portion which projects through the packing element.

4. Ina device ofthe character described,

the combination with a barrel, of a cap threaded into the lower end' thereof' and having a conical recess formed therein, a thin metallic funnel-like member seated in said recess, a compressible packing element in said funnel, a removable tip threaded into the cap and a hypodermic needle having an enlarged portion intermediate its'ends and through which the outer portion of the needle passes, said tip engaging the enlarged portion of the needle and forcing it against the lower end of vthe funnel-like member.

5. Av structure as recited in claim 4 wherein said funnel-like member is provided. with a concave lower end within which the enlarged portion of the needle has a seating.

6; A struct-ure as recited in claimeL wherein the lower portion of the funnel-like member has a concave recess formed therein'withinl which the enlarged member of the needle has a seating, that portion of the needle above the'enlarged portion projecting through the compressible packing element and terminatin g slightly above-the upper surface thereof.

7. A structure as recited in claim 4 wherein said needle has a closed upper end and lateral openings below said upper end. y

8. A syringe of the character described, comprising a barrel having' an internally threaded lower end, a head threadedv into engagement therewith, a ringwithin the barrel adjacent its lower end, a packing element having a convex upper face and conically recessed lower andupper end portions, seated in said head, a tip threaded into the lower end vof said head, a hypodermic needle having an enlarged-portion forced against the concave lower face of the packing element by said tip when the latteris screwed into position, said packingelement being forced into engagement with said .ring when the head is screwed into position and said needle comprising a portion abovesaid-enlarged portion thereof which projects upwardly through the packing -element and terminates slightly above the upper face if the said packing.

element. j

9. A syringe of the character described,

comprising a barrel, a sleeve slidable in said barrel, a spring actuated pressure element movable in said sleeve, a ring in the barrel adjacent the lower end thereof having a bev- .eled lower face fa cap having screw threaded engagement with the lower end of the barrel,

-a tip having'tlireaded engagement with the lower end of the cap, said cap having a conical interior, a metallic funnel-like element seated in ysaid cap, a conical rubber packing element seated in said funnel-like member havin a concave lower f\ace, said packing element having a conical recess formed in its upper face, a hypodermic needle having an' Aenlarged portion which lies between the tip and the llower end of the funnel-like element, the outer portion of said needle projecting through the packing element and into the conical recess formed in the upper face thereof.

10. A syringe adapted to receive an ampule and having means at its discharge end to make fluid tight connection directly with the forward end of the body of an ampule, a plunger adapted to operate in said ampule,

and means on the interior of the syringe coacting with said ampule and adapted to hold the ampule in place in the syringe independ ently ofthe thrust of the plunger.

11. The combination of a syringe including a barrel having an apertured compressble member at one end, and an ampule having a neck portion apertured and engaging said compressible member, said ampule having a cylindrical inner wall, a plunger movable in the wall, Ythe ampule having a smooth end and a member movable in the barrel adapted to engage the end and hold the ampule in place and means extending into the barrel for moving said plunger.

12. A ysyringe adapted to receive an ampule, and having means at itsdischarge end to make fluid tight connection directlywith' the forward end of the body of the ampule, a plunger adapted to operate in said ampule and a resilient pressure exerting means adapted to bear against the rear end of the ampule and to force the ampule bodily toward the discharge end of the syringe independently of the thrust of the plunger.

13QA hypodermic syringe comprising an vampule having a pointed front end anda stopper for its rear end, front, rear andintermediate members, the rear member being separable from the intermediate member to permit the introduction and removal of lthe ampule, and a longitudinally yielding inner member carried by the syringe rear member for engaging the rear end of the ampule to4 press it forwardly.

14. A hypodermic syringe comprising an ampule having a pointed front end anda stopper for its rear end, front, rear and intermediate members, the rear member being separable from the intermediate member to permit the introduction and removal of the ampule, a longitudinally yielding inner member carried by the syringe rear member for engaging the rear end of the ampule to press it forwardly, and a tapered washer in the front member forming a yielding cushion for the pointed front end of the ampule. y

15. A hypodermic syringe comprising an ampule having a pointed front end and -astopper for its rear end, front, rear and intermediate members. the vrear member being separable from' the intermediate member to' er slidable in the inner member having itsl head positioned to force the ampule stopper along within the ampule to eject the contents thereof. Y 16. The combination-of a hypodermic syringe comprising a body including front, rear and intermediate body members and an amforming a packing between said tapered end and the front member, a stopper in the ampule and means to move the stopper within the ampule to eject the contents'thereof.

17. A syringe adapted to receive an ampule, and having means at its discharge end to make fluid tight connection directly with the forward end of the'body of an ampule, a plunger adapted to operate in said ampule and a yieldable telescopic pressure exerting means adapted to bear against the rear end of the ampule.

18. A syringe adapted to receive an arnpule, and having means at its discharge end to make fluid tight connection directly with the forward end of the body of an ampule, a plungerl adapted to operate in said ampule, a telescopic element adapted to bear against the rear end of the ampule and a spring disposed in said telescopic element for forcing it against said ampule.

19. A syringe of thercharacter described comprising a tip having a conical recesstherein, aconi'cal elastic element,- seated in said recess and a discharge tube extending through said conical elastic element, said elastic element being provided with a conical recess adapted `to receive the small broken end of an ampule, the upper end of the discharge tube project-ing above the lower en`d Aof said recess.

20. A syringe ofthe character described .comprising a tip having a conical recess therein, a conical elastic element seated in said recess and a discharge tube, said elastic element having a conical recessin its upper face and wherein the. discharge tube extends through said elementand projects above the bottom of said conical recess and has a closed upper end with lateral openings therein below said closed upper end.

21. In a syringe of the character described, the combination with a lbarrel, of a cap adapted to be screwed into engagementthere-r with, a ring carried by thev lower endv of the barrel having a beveled lower face,a conical recess in the cap, a conical rubber cone seated in said recess and a discharge tube extending upwardly through said cone.

22. A structure as recited in claim .21 wherein saidcone is provided with a tapering recess in its upper face.'

23. A structure as recited in claim `21 wherein said rubber cone is provided with a convex upper face and a conical downwardly tapering recess, centrally formed in its upper face. f

24. A structure as recited in claim 21 wherein said rubber cone is provided with a central tapering recess formed in its upper face, and wherein said discharge tube pro- 5 jects above the bottom of said recess.

25. A structure as recited in claim 21 wherein said cone is provided with a centzal tapering recess and wherein said discharge tube projects above said recess and is provided with a. closed upper end and lateral openings below said closed upper end.

26. A syringe adapted to receive an ampule having a tapered discharge end and having means at its discharge end to make fluid tight connection with the forward end oi the body part of an ampule, a plunger adapted to operate in said ampule and a resilient pressure exerting means adapted to bear against the rear end of the ampule and to force the ampule bodily toward the dis-4 charge end of the syringe independently of the thrust of the plunger, said irst mentioned means comprising an elastic element engaging said tapered end whereby a conical fluid tight seal is provided.

27. A syringe of the character described, comprising a barrel, an ampule engaging member movable within said barrel, a plungv er .ciement movable through said ampule engaging member in said barrel, said barrel having an interiorly tapered lower end portion, a rubber packing element fitted in said tapered portion, said packing element being flared at its upper end and havin an apera5 ture therethrough, and an ampule in said barrel, said ampule having a tapered lower end fitting the flared portion of said packing element.

28. A syringe of the character described,

comprising a barrel, an ampule engaging member movable within said barrel, a plunger element movable through said ampule engaging member in said barrel, said barrel having a cylindrical lower end, said barrel .15; including an apertured closure for the cylindrical lower end, said closure having a tapered interior, a. rubber packing element iitt-ngin said tapered interior, said packing element having an aperture therethrough,

no the upper end of the aperture being iiared,

an ampule in said barrel, said ampuie having a tapered end fitting in the dared portion of said packing element aperture and a hypodermicneedle on said barrel.

.n.1 In testimony whereof, I hereunto ax my signature.

ARTHUR E. SMITH. 

